Mitsubishi Repair: my car cranks but wont start, cold weather sets, crank angle sensor

Question
hey,

I have a 2000 Mitsubishi galant and it won't start. This problem started last weekend (superbowl weekend) where i did drive the car for 2 days (Saturday and Sunday). not to mention it was pretty cold (Chicago). I tried starting it on monday but it just cranked, didn't start. I kept cranking, until it didn't crank no more.  my friend told me it might be the battery. so i took the battery to autozone and they charged it and said it was fine. than i took it home and tried to start it again but it didn't.so i left it. It has been sitting there ever since. Information you should know about the car: the check engine light would come off and on. when i changed the spark plugs there was oil on the 4th spark plug. (that was about 6 months ago) It has about 80,000 miles on it. I would get my oil changes on time.and lastly, there was no major work done on the car. what do you think would is wrong and be my cheapest and best option.

thanks,
farhan

Answer
Farhan: When the starter turns the car over is it fast in doing that, or slow? When is the last time you did a tune up? Spark plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor? In the distributor is a sensor known as the crank angle sensor. With the engine light coming on and going off; your car's computer is telling you there is a problem in the line. With one of the sensors, you should have your car coded and AutoZone would do that for free if only you could get the car there. That would tell what sensors are weak, dying or if there is a problem with your computer. Most things hang in there on a car during the warm months, but once the cold weather sets in. Things start to go. How about the fuel pump can you hear it start, when you turn the key on. A lot of people due to the high cost of fuel are letting their cars go down to "E" on the tank. With that it is very hard on the fuel pumps, as the fuel is what keeps the pump cool. Are you sure your battery cables are clean and tight. These little cars got to have those cables tight and clean. You could get a repair manual at any parts store, a voltmeter and start with the battery work yourself around the car; the manual will tell you the right readings and see if you have a bad or weak sensor someplace. It takes three things for a car engine to run, fuel, air and stark. But the computer and those sensors have to working right to make sure the computer can set that all together for the car to start. You could take the distributor cap loose, try turning it a bit one way or the other; then try to start the car. I would take the battery inside, keep it warm, when ready to start the car put it in and try that. Pick a warmer day and I know that is going to be darn hard right now. I live in northern Iowa, and a warm day here is 4. But still try that. Oh listen to the car as you try to turn it over, as to the speed the starter is turning it. You might need a new starter if it is turning to slow. And even if your battery tested ok, it might still be weak. You might have to buy another battery. Once you crank hard on a battery, hopefully you did not leave that battery in the car over night after that. But took it in warm someplace. If not it could still be your battery. But do these things I told you about and please keep me posted on things. Hope this helps and good luck!